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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
An Edo state community has condemned violent disruption of a peaceful protest to complain against incessant cases of kidnapping in Akoko Edo.
The disruption took place when the community organised rally to register bad representation of the community by the members of both chambers of the National Assembly.
Spareheaded by Akoko‑Edo Forum (AEF), community members who gathered to also peacefully protest issues of infrastructural decay, insecurity, and the deplorable condition of major roads across the LG, were attacked, lamented the disruption of the peaceful protest.
In a statement in Abuja by Mary Opii and Edith Aiyede, the AEF lamented the disruption of the protest to draw attention to the long‑standing neglect of Akoko‑Edo Local Government Area.
The statement further noted that AEF members had gathered to peacefully protest before they were disrupted by a group of thugs and miscreants led by an official of the Akoko‑Edo Local Government Council.
According to the statement, the protesters reaffirmed their demands, and summed it up in their placards with various inscriptions like: “Demand responsible representation”, “Bad roads equal bad governance”, “Enough of Apkatason and Oshiomole — Let Akoko‑Edo breathe”, “We demand fair share of state projects”, “One Akoko‑Edo, one voice”, “AEF for justice and development”.
Other inscriptions on the placards read: “Where are Akoko‑Edo’s constituency projects?”, “We cannot suffer in silence anymore”, “Stop using Akoko‑Edo for votes only”, “Akoko‑Edo deserves two additional local governments”, “EFCC and ICPC, when are you visiting Akoko‑Edo LGA?”, “Enough of kidnappings”, “Insecurity is killing our communities”, “Give Akoko‑Edo youths a future”, “Where are the Edo Polytechnic (Igarra Campus) and the School of Geology and Mining?”, “Akoko‑Edo deserves roads, not excuses”, “Rt. Hon. Bliss Alabi, Hon. Idiaye Yekini, Hon. Donald Okogbe, Hon. Bisi Idoami, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, Dr. Roland Otaru (SAN) — remember you are filling the Akoko‑Edo Slot”
While condemning the disruption of the protest, the community highlighted years of unaddressed petitions to successive state administrations regarding insecurity, infrastructural collapse, and the deplorable roads conditions. It is heart rendering that a major road such as Auchi–Igarra–Ibillo road has become a haven for kidnapping and other sundry criminalities due to its deplorable state. They emphasized that Akoko‑Edo has endured decades of systemic neglect and deserves immediate intervention.
“Despite the presence of security agencies who had been invited to safeguard the peaceful demonstrators, the local government official verbally threatened protesters, physically assaulted some of them, and directed his group to harass innocent bystanders.
“To prevent escalation and on the advice of security operatives, AEF members dispersed and later addressed a press conference at Ugbogbo, Igarra.
“At the press briefing, the AEF Chairman—joined by representatives from the three zones of Akoko‑Edo—reiterated the collective grievances of the people and called on the Federal Government, the Edo State Government, the National Assembly, and all Nigerians to take urgent notice of the worsening conditions in the LGA.
“The Forum unanimously condemned the actions of the miscreants who attempted to suppress a lawful and peaceful demonstration. AEF commended the Divisional Police Officer of Igarra and the Department of State Services (DSS) officer in Akoko‑Edo for their professionalism in preventing what could have become a major breakdown of law and order,” the statement read.
AEF reaffirmed its commitment to a sustained, peaceful campaign aimed at transforming the narrative of Akoko‑Edo. The Forum called on all sons and daughters of the LGA to unite, reject political manipulation, and stand firmly for justice, equity, and development.
